City Comparison

Birmingham vs Davenport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Birmingham

Alabama
87
Below Average
$165,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$38,178
Median Income

Davenport

Iowa
83
Very Affordable
$212,000
Median Home
$900/mo
Median Rent
$66,200
Median Income

The Verdict

4.8%

Davenport is 4.8% less expensive than Birmingham overall. A household earning $75,000 in Birmingham would need approximately $71,552 in Davenport to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
67
Birmingham
60
Davenport
Groceries
96
Birmingham
97
Davenport
Utilities
92
Birmingham
83
Davenport
Transportation
99
Birmingham
105
Davenport
Healthcare
91
Birmingham
97
Davenport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Birmingham has the same purchasing power as $71,552 in Davenport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Davenport equals $78,614 in Birmingham.

Living in Birmingham vs Davenport

Housing Costs

Birmingham's housing index of 67 is higher Davenport's 60, translating to median home prices of $165,000 vs $212,000. The $47,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,060 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Birmingham compared to $900/mo in Davenport, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Birmingham and 97 in Davenport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Birmingham vs $461/month in Davenport. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 92 in Birmingham and 83 in Davenport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Birmingham vs $332 in Davenport. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 91 in Birmingham and 97 in Davenport. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $38,178 in Birmingham and $66,200 in Davenport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $43,883 and $79,759 respectively. Davenport residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $891/month to housing in Birmingham vs $1,545/month in Davenport. In Birmingham, median rent of $1,000/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 9 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 4.8% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 87.
A $75,000 salary in Birmingham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $71,552 in Davenport, based on the cost of living difference.
Birmingham's housing index is 67 with median homes at $165,000, while Davenport's is 60 with median homes at $212,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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